Toy switch



I. V. GOODMAN.

IOY SWITCH. APPLICATION FILEDNJULY8, 1920.

1,355,467. Patented Oct. 12,1920.

gyvuzntoz UNITED STATES PATENT or f ce. 1

. IRA v. GOODMAN, or ALTOONA, rnitirsymvmm. t it TOY SWITCH.

Application and July 8, 1920. Serial No. 394,706.

T all whom it may concemi:

Beit known that I, IRA V. GOODMAN a citizen of the ['nited States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair, Stateot' Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Switches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it .appertainstomake and use the same.

This invention relates to railways, and more especially to switches; and the object of the'same is to produce a switch particularly applicable to toy outfits operating on the third rail electric principle.

The well known objection to these switches is that the movable element or switch point often jars out-of position during...the passage of the train, with the result that the train is derailed and the circuit is broken.or

both. p

, The object of the present invention is to avoid these objections and at the same, time to simplify and therefore to cheapen the construction.

Details are set forth below and shown in the drawings wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of this switch with the points set to make the main line continuous, and Fig; 2 is a plan view of most of what is shown in Fig. 1, with the point thrown to its opposite extreme position.

Fig, 3 is a side elevation showing the switch lever in full lines in the position of Fi 1, and in dotted lines in the position ofT-ig. 2. L I

. The numerals 1 designate the ties, 2 a

larger tie wvhere the side track meets the main track, andB a longer tie upturned at its outer end at 4 and having the switch lever 5 pivoted to said end at 6 and also carrying a spring? connected with a lower point 8 on the movable element, sothat the contraction of the spring holds the lever in either extreme position as shown in Fig. 3.

The main line or straight track is composed of an outer continuous rail 10 and an inner rail .11 which is broken forthe entry .Of the side track. One rail "12 of the latter joins the inner rail 11 in a point 13, and the other rail 1-1 merges into the inner rail 11 at the point 15. The third rail or trolley as it will hecalled herein for purpose of distinguishing it from the other rails,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 0 ct.'1 2', '1920.

consists of a section 16 extending along the ma n line and broken at the "switch. beyond TVlllCll itcontinues as at 17, and a section 18 .extending along the side track, all of said sections being insulated from the ties as indicated by the shading at l9. Ascustomary the trolley is connected with one side of the battery or source of power and all rails and hes (which usuallv are of metal) are connected with the other side of the batterv.

The movable element or switch point comprises rails 20 and Qlmounted on a base 22 ofinsulating material such as fiber, and thisbase is pivoted at 23 at a proper point on the long tie 3. The ends of the rails 20 and21 are properly' beveled off as shown, the left ends in the drawings. adapted to make contact with either side of the point 13, and the right ends with the inner faces of the main line rails 10 and 11. The trolley rail section 16 is provided with a spring tongue 26, section .18 has a similar tongue- 28, and section 17 has tongues 27 and 29. An arm :Ziprojects from the base 2:2 under or through the main line rail 10- and is 2 pturned and connected "at the point 8 with the spring 7 described above.

\Vhen the 'lever 5 is thrown as seen in Fig. 1, the main track is continuous, the rail 21 standing in line with the sections of the inner-rail 11, and the rail '20 bridging the gap in the t-rolley, one end resting against the tongue- 26 and the other end against the tongue :29 and these ends are held there by tension on the spring. 7.

'hen the lever 5 is thrown to the oppositeposition as seen in Fig. 2 and in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the switch point is turned so that one end of the rail "21 rests against the tongue 2-8 and the other against the -"tongue 27 where they are held by the spring,

the rail "21 bridgesthe gap between'the trolley sections 18 and 17, and the rail 20 connects the side track rail 1'2 with the continuous main line rail 10. It is true that in one case a slightly curved rail section 20 forms part of the trolley which is otherwise straight. and in the other case a straight rail section 21 forms part of the trolley section 18 which should curve into the section 17; but the collector or brush onthe motor car of the train will be sufficiently wide to travel over this slightly. irregular trolley or third rail. The essential feature is that the contraction of the spring 7 holds the switch loo point in either extreme position so as to prevent the jar of'the train from dislodging the point or interrupting the circuit which in its position it closes. It is quite possible that other forms of switch operatingmech- {UHSIIIJIIIELV be employed, but I have shown an upturned outer end, and a switch point pivoted on said tieand having an arm extending along such tle; of a lever pivoted to said upturned end; and a contractile spring connecting the lever with the outer end of l the arm at a point below the line of the pivot, for the purpose described. 2. In a switch for a third rail system, the

combination with the main line and switch line rails, a long tie underlying their point of union, the third rails interrupted at such point and spring tongues at the extremities of said third rails; ofa switch point comprising two rails mounted on an insulated base. a pivotal support for the-base at said point of union, means for turning the base on its pivot so that one of-its rails complements the track rail and'the other comple- 'ments the third rail and contacts at its extremities with the tongues thereof. and means for turning'said base to the opposite position when desired.

3. In a switch for a third rail system, the combination with the main line and switch line rails, a long tie underlying their point 0f union, the third rails interrupted at such point, and spring tongues at the extremities 40 of said third rails; of a switch point comprising two rails mounted on an insulated base, a pivotal support for the base at said point of union, an arm projecting transversely from said base, a switch'lever movably mounted, and a spring connecting said arm and lever whereby in either position of the latter the arm and base will be turned on their pivot'to cause one rail to complement a line rail and the other to complement the third r ail, said spring holding its 7 extremities in contact with two' of said tongues.

42 In a switch for a third rail systemythe combination with the main line and the 5 switch line rails uniting therewith, the third rails interrupted at such point. and spring tongues at the extremities of said third rails: of a switch point comprising two insulated rails pivotally mounted at said v point of union, means for turning said point so that one of its rails complements the track rail and the other complements the third rail and contacts at itsextremities with the tongues thereof, and means for turning said point to the opposite position when desired. R v

In testimony' whereof, I affix my signa- I ture, in the presence of two witnesses.

IRA V. GOODMAN. Witnesses I Hoinan C, MINsTER JAMEs L. POLK, Jr. 

